FORMER Celtic star Paul Lambert has appointed Roy Keane as assistant manager at Aston Villa and has defended his choice saying that the fiery Irishman is the perfect choice for his No.2.

PAUL LAMBERT insists Roy Keane is not an ogre and swears the straight-talking Irishman is the perfect role model for Aston Villa’s rising stars.

Lambert hired his fellow former Celt to be his No.2 after the shock sacking of long-term backroom duo Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa amid allegations of bullying.

Villa finished just three points above the drop zone last season and the new management duo are desperate to turn the club’s fortunes around.

Keane, 42, gained a fearsome reputation as a midfield hardman and his comments as a pundit are equally brutal.

But last night Lambert swore he and his players enjoyed working with his new assistant and said: “The good thing about Roy is he will say it as it is.

“I don’t think you can dress something up nicely when it is not. He will give you that honest assessment but we are here to help everyone.

“People shouldn’t get caught up with claims that Roy Keane is an aggressive person.

“With the career he has had as a footballer – and people forget he had a lot of success as a manager – what he says is really positive, especially to young players. If they don’t take a leaf out of his book there is something wrong.

“If they don’t take in some of the things he says there would be something wrong about them as individuals.

“I can really trust him. He is a really good football person, a top football man. He has been great.”

Keane – who will combine his new role with his job of assistant to Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill – led by example on Villa’s pre-season tour of the USA, joining in training and showing the players he’s lost none of his ability.

The former Parkhead pair have taken charge of four summer friendlies and their first defeat came on Wednesday when a youthful Villa side lost 3-1 at League One Chesterfield.

They head to Holland tomorrow to face Groningen, Aberdeen’s Europa League victims, and Lambert is planning crunch talks with Dutch World Cup star Ron Vlaar, who is wanted by Southampton, during the trip.

Alan Hutton is back in the Villa fold after being frozen out due to high wages. West Brom made a bid for the Scotland defender but Lambert knocked it back.